‘Neath a starry maple’s shade
I was young, once...young
as the barn roof’s terracotta tiles
hung with moss and lichen; young
as the five kinds of green I see
from the top of this hill. I don’t
mean young in a sense I was like
the skittish colt I tried to ride
on a farm at the end of the lane...
now a housing estate.
No... I mean young in the way
this veranda was built, on the broad,
brown back of a man who made wine
from our grapes...the one who
gathered flowers from the meadow
and painstakingly pressed them,
all winter through, to make a collage
to give me on my birthday; a man
who loved, so very deeply...
I was young in sunlight, filtering
through the leaves, and a heady,
southerly breeze – blew the stars
around...young as the red deer –
feasts on the bark of the vine,
glances furtively around, only
to resume. I was the same, then;
amoral, out of step; plucky
and proud, and a little off kilter.
Comments
MaggieG | September 2, 2011 - 23:53
*smiles*
My father had this great expression . He used to call where we were from " The Homeland of Beautiful Beasts " You described beautifully here :)
Silver Spun Sand | September 3, 2011 - 06:48
Thanks, Maggie;-)
Tina
maggyvaneijk | September 3, 2011 - 12:51
Just beautiful, like a breath of fresh sun soaked air.
Silver Spun Sand | September 3, 2011 - 13:02
And thank you to you, maggie;-)
Tina
Highhat | September 3, 2011 - 14:19
I certainly couldn't have described the feeling of being young the way you have here but then you always come up with freshness and amaze me every time Tina.
This was really as maggy said- a breath of fresh air just as youth can be - never boring...always on the go
Well done
;)Pia
barryj1 | September 3, 2011 - 17:02
Delicate but enduring imagery that stays with you long after the electronic page is turned.
Silver Spun Sand | September 3, 2011 - 18:26
Pia - thanks, so very much.
We could all do with 'a breath of fresh air sometimes'...as was your comment. More than appreciated;-)
Tina
Silver Spun Sand | September 3, 2011 - 18:28
Speaking of 'enduring imagery', barry...such are your words;-) Thank you.
Tina
mycall | February 25, 2012 - 19:35
Made me smile, thanks Tina its a great poem. Mike
Silver Spun Sand | February 25, 2012 - 22:10
Many thanks, Mike, for seeking this one out.
Pleased I brought a smile to your lips;-)
Tina